Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots Quiz

Answer: Henry VIII, Edward VI, Lady Jane Grey, Mary I

The Tudor dynasty of England had its fair share of good and bad monarchs. Claiming their inheritance from the lineage of the Lancastrians, they defeated the Yorkists in 1485 and the Welsh Earl of Pembroke became Henry VII. He then cemented his claim by marrying the eldest daughter of Edward IV, the Princess Elizabeth.

Henry VII died in 1509, leaving his second son to become Henry VIII at the age of 18. One of the more famous of all England's monarchs, Henry VIII is usually remember for his six wives, instead of the military conquests he achieved. On his death in 1547, Henry left the crown to his nine-year-old son, Edward VI.

After the religious turmoil that plagued his father's rule, Edward was a staunch Protestant and began the decimation of the Catholic Church. Had he not died in 1553, he might have succeeded completely. With his death at the age of 15, Edward had amended the line of succession, leaving the throne to his cousin, Lady Jane Grey, rather than his sister, the Princess Mary. Lady Jane was technically on the throne for nine days before she was deposed and later beheaded. Mary I earned the title of 'Bloody Mary' during her reign for to her incessant efforts to bring England back to the Catholic Church.

The Protestants of England welcomed her death in 1558, for her successor was Elizabeth I.

Answer: James

The Stuart dynasty had ruled Scotland for some time. With the extinction of the male Bruce line, the claim passed to the son of Princess Marjorie Bruce, the daughter of King David I. "The last five Scottish monarchs had been children at their accession, many of them still in their cradles.

The Stuarts were plagued by their history of monarchs dying violently and dying young. James I and III were murdered and James II was blown up while watching his own cannon being fired" (p. 44); James V is quoted to have said, upon learning of the birth of his daughter, "It'll come with a lass and it will end with a lass"; he died six weeks later. Those who believe he actually said this often believe that the last 'lass' was Mary, Queen of Scots.

However others would argue that the last 'lass' was Queen Anne, who reigned from 1702 to 1714.

Answer: Henry VII Tudor and Elizabeth of York

The uniting of the two warring houses of York and Lancaster was celebrated throughout the land, as the marriage had ended the War of the Roses, which had raged for about thirty years. Although many would argue that Henry only married her to legitimise his claim, it appeared to be a love match as well, for Henry was distraught when Elizabeth died in childbirth. Together they produced roughly eight children, although only four made it to adulthood. Prince Arthur of Wales, who died soon after his marriage to the Castilian princess; the future Henry VIII; Princess Margaret who married the King of Scotland and was the ancestor of Mary, Queen of Scots; and Princess Mary, who was married to the King of France and later Charles Brandon and was the ancestor of Lady Jane Grey.

Answer: Princess Marie Baudemont of Guise

Whilst Mary was in France, she was always be under the influence of her uncles, the brothers of her mother, Mary de Guise (as she was more commonly known). She was the second wife of James V of Scotland, as his first wife, Princess Marguerite, died within six months of her marriage and arrival in Scotland; she was the daughter of Francois I of France. Mary de Guise brokered the marriage contract to the Dauphin of France and remained in Scotland during her daughter's minority rule as her regent. The last time she saw her regal daughter was when Mary was nine years old, when Marie was on a visit to France.

Answer: 3

Found guilty on trumped up charges, Anne Boleyn was sentenced to die, along with her alleged lovers, which included her brother George, Viscount Rochford. Henry VIII had moved heaven and earth to divorce his first wife and marry her. In Henry's eyes, the least she could do in return was to provide him with the son he so desperately wanted, not only for himself but to secure the succession for his country.

However rumours flew after her second miscarriage that she was no longer able to carry a child and her days were numbered.

Not long afterwards, Anne was arrested and taken to the Tower of London. In the three years since becoming queen, she had lost everything. Dying neither as the wife of Henry nor as the Queen, she was executed on Tower Green by a French executioner with a sword.

Answer: 24th April 1558

Both Catherine de Medici (the Dauphin's mother) and Diane de Poitiers (the King's mistress) argued that the marriage did not need to be hurried, and wanted to give the young couple more time to grow up and to get to know each other. However their advice was put aside.

At Notre Dame Cathedral on Sunday 24th April 1558, the future Francois II was married to the Queen of Scotland; she became the Dauphine of France and he became the King of Scotland. The streets of Paris were filled with the joyous people, celebrating the first marriage of a dauphin in over two hundred years.

Answer: Emperor Maximillian II

As the Queen of England, Elizabeth was well sought after by each single monarch and nobleman of Europe; of course not only for herself, but for her country as well. Elizabeth had learned at a young age that when men approached her, they saw not her as a person, but as a means to get their hands on the throne.

The kings of Sweden and Spain tried to woo her into marriage, as did the Dukes of Anjou, Alencon and Savoy. At one stage Elizabeth was actually engaged to the French Duke of Alencon, however she quickly reneged on her decision and remained unmarried for all her life.

Answer: 10th July 1559

Catherine de Medici had her husband's death predicted to her some time before it actually occurred. The tournament was in honour of the marriage of the king's two daughters, Elizabeth and Marguerite, to the king of Spain and the duke of Savoy respectively.

Henri had challenged the Captain managed to thrust the lance into Henri's helmet and straight through his eye. The king was carried from the field and died nearly ten days after the fatal blow. His fifteen-year-old sickly son was to succeed him as Francois II, with Mary by his side as Queen.

Answer: Stepfather and stepson

The two favourites of Elizabeth were in fact stepfather and stepson. Leicester had married Essex's mother after the death of her first husband. When Leicester died, it was Essex's turn in the spotlight. Essex was the commander of Elizabeth's armies, until he was found guilty of treason for bargaining with the Irish rebel leader and he was subsequently executed in 1601.

Answer: King Eric XVI Vasa of Sweden

Strange as it may seem, this is true. Eric continued to send many gifts to Elizabeth during the early years of her reign; however she stuck to her guns, politely refused him and never married anyone else either. However as soon as Mary was a widow for the first time, Eric instructed his ambassadors to switch the wooing process to Mary, while she was on her way home to Scotland. Perhaps his thinking was if he could not gain England, Scotland would suffice.

As it would turn out, neither queen would accept him.